Quantification of wind-driven rain intrusion in building-integrated photovoltaic systems

• Published in: Solar energy Vol. 230; pp. 376 - 389
• Main Authors: Fedorova, Anna, Jelle, Bjørn Petter, Hrynyszyn, Bozena Dorota, Geving, Stig
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021; Pergamon Press Inc
• Subjects: BIPV; Building envelopes; Building-integrated photovoltaics; Climatic conditions; Hurricanes; Intrusion; Laboratories; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Quantification; Rain; Roofs; Solar energy; Test; Watertightness; Wind; Wind speed; Wind-driven rain; BIPV; Building-integrated photovoltaics; Wind-driven rain; Quantification; Test; Watertightness
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2021.10.030

•Methodology for quantification of wind-driven rain intrusion is presented.•Water leakages measured during investigation of three different BIPV systems for roof integration are identified and quantified.•Watertightness level of tested BIPV systems are evaluated.•BIPV systems details and installation procedure are provided. Wind-driven rain (WDR) impact is a serious exposure that affects performance of the building envelope components and systems. This study presents results from a laboratory investigation of a testing methodology of WDR intrusion in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems. The major aspect proposed in this work is a quantification of water intrusion through BIPV systems. For that matter, a water collection system was designed and tested. When water intrusion is quantified, it may enable categorisation and comparison of various BIPV systems according to their watertightness level. This methodology was applied to three BIPV systems designed for roof integration. The methodology can also be modified and used for various building envelope systems, including traditional roof and facade systems without PV or BIPV systems. As the methodology was developed with climate conditions in northern Europe in mind, WDR exposure of extreme levels was applied. Wind speed ranges from 12.9 m/s (strong breeze) to 35.3 m/s (hurricane) were used. When it comes to newly developed and not well-studied building envelope systems, such as various BIPV systems, they should be subjected to a more extensive investigation. The proposed testing methodology could become an extension of the standard investigations of BIPV systems carried out at accredited laboratories.